Guinea 50-CAURIS (KM42)¶
-
Obverse COWRIE
-
Reverse Denomination
- Composition
- Aluminum
- Country
- Guinea
- Approx. Size
- 19mm
- Area
- Africa
- Animal Class
- Mollusks
- Species
- Cowrie
- KM#
- 42
Cowry (or Cowrie) are a number of different species of marine snail found in tropical waters. Their shells were used as money in Africa. Images of them are found in cave paintings, and millions have been found in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. The denomination "cauris" is obviously a form of "cowry" in recognition of the original form of currency. There are 100 cauris to one syli. This coin was issued one year only, and is the only circulating animal coin issued by Guinea.
Guinea¶
- Area
- Africa
The area of Guinea has been incorporated into many different empires over the centuries, from the Ghana Empire around the year 900 to the French empire in 1890. Guinea gained independence in 1958 and then suffered through 26 years of socialist dictatorship. Although socialist economic policies were largely abandoned in 1984, the country was still pretty much run by a dictatorship and is to this day. A poorly developed economy -- despite major natural resources -- and fighting with its neighbours has left Guinea in poverty. On the good side, Guinea has a vibrant musical culture like many of its west-African neighbours.
